Polyols from carbon dioxide also for sport

For the
first time, synthetic sports floorings can be produced with carbon dioxide -
which means less crude oil is needed as a raw material. The world's first
subfloor of this kind has now been opened in the hockey facility of a renowned
sports club in Krefeld in western Germany. The particularly sustainable new
material comes from the materials manufacturer Covestro, which has developed a
groundbreaking process for carbon dioxide utilization to market maturity. This
can save up to one-fifth of crude oil in production - an innovative
contribution to resource preservation and recycling management.

The carbon
dioxide for the subfloor is contained in a binder - or more precisely, in one
of its components, a so-called polyol. So far, the new carbon dioxide-based
material called cardyon has been used to produce soft polyurethane foam for
mattresses and upholstered furniture, which is already being marketed. The
further development for use in sports is now the next step in the expansion of
the range of applications.

"The
use of carbon dioxide as a new raw material is a promising approach for making
production in the chemical and plastics industries more sustainable,"
explains Dr. Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro. "This way, we use carbon
dioxide in a closed-loop process and save oil. On this basis, we want to offer
a comprehensive product portfolio for as many areas of application as possible -
in line with our vision of making the world a brighter place".

The first
customer for the new binder produced with carbon dioxide is the globally active
sports flooring producer Polytan. The company from Burgheim, Bavaria, which
belongs to the Sport Group, uses the material to produce elastic underfloors
together with rubber granulate. "We attach great importance to using
sustainable raw materials and are always on the lookout for ecologically more
sensible alternatives to conventional products. Ideally, even the quality of
the product can be improved. Covestro guarantees exactly that with cardyon”,
says Sport Group Purchasing Manager Daniel Klomp.

The first carbon
dioxide-based floor is now in use at the "Crefelder Hockey and Tennis
Club". The traditional club maintains one of the leading field hockey
facilities in Germany, which repeatedly serves as a venue for international
matches and championships. The subfloor was laid on a 99 x 59-meter playing
field and serves to cushion the effect of a new, bright blue artificial turf,
also from Polytan. "Sport is not just healthy, it can also contribute to
sustainability. We are proving this with the newly equipped hockey field, which
will certainly make our club even more attractive," explains club manager
Robert Haake.

The use of carbon dioxide as a raw
material for plastics is made possible by a particularly environmentally
friendly technology that Covestro has developed together with its partners. carbon
dioxide is used as a supplier of the important element carbon – instead of
petroleum-based raw materials. Up to 20 percent of traditional fossil raw
materials can thus be replaced by carbon dioxide. Covestro produces the new carbon
dioxide-based polyols at its Dormagen site near Cologne. The carbon dioxide
comes from a neighbouring chemical company, which produces it as a by-product.

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Press registered at the Milan Court, n.144 at 03/22/2010 Pubblisher: Mario Maggiani.Reproduction prohibited, all rights reserved. The editorial staff disclaims all responsibility regarding the worth of articles and news from various sources.